Schools teach students to protect themselves and seek help

We agree with youth forum writer Wu Yu Tong on the need to teach young people to keep themselves safe, assert their boundaries and seek help ("正视性教育以确保青少年身心安全 Take sexuality education seriously to safeguard young people's physical and mental well-being", 12 Aug).

The Ministry of Education (MOE) is committed to equipping every student to make informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. In schools, Sexuality Education is taught in a developmentally and age-appropriate manner through Character and Citizenship Education from primary to pre-university levels, and through Science and Biology lessons at the secondary level.

From Primary 1, students learn the importance of respect, privacy and safety, both online and offline. They are taught to differentiate between "good touch" and "bad touch", recognise unsafe situations, communicate their boundaries clearly, and protect themselves. Students also learn that all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation are unacceptable. At the secondary and pre-university levels, through scenarios and role-play, students learn how to build healthy relationships, respect and assert their right to say "no" to sexual advances, and understand the socio-emotional and legal consequences of overstepping these boundaries.

Across all levels, students learn the laws that protect them from sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as the avenues available to seek help. Schools have reporting channels for students to report incidents in a timely manner and seek support if they experience inappropriate behaviour or are concerned that a peer may be at risk.

We agree with the writer that schools cannot address this alone. Parents play an equally important role in supporting their children's well-being and safety, through reinforcing what their children learn in school, and creating an environment where children feel safe to speak up. We encourage our students to continue to have open and honest conversations on sexuality-related topics with trusted adults, such as their parents, teachers and school counsellors. To support parents in guiding their children, MOE provides curated resources on healthy sexuality, growth and development on the MOE website (https://www.moe.gov.sg/education-in-sg/our-programmes/sexuality-education/stakeholders).

MOE reviews the Sexuality Education curriculum regularly to ensure it remains responsive to the challenges young people face. We will continue to emphasise personal safety and help-seeking avenues, while working closely with parents to educate, guide and safeguard our young.

Ms Loh Wee Cheng
Divisional Director, Student Development Curriculum Division 1
Ministry of Education

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学校教导学生自我保护与求助

谨答复《联合早报·交流站·青年视角》于8月12日刊登的吴禹彤同学投函《正视性教育以确保青少年身心安全》：

我们认同吴同学的看法，即有必要教导年轻人如何保障自身安全、明确表达个人界限，并在需要时求助。

教育部致力于让每名学生做好准备，以便在面对性课题时，能做出明智且负责任的抉择。在学校，我们根据学生不同的成长阶段和年龄，因材施教：从小学的品格与公民教育（Character and Citizenship Education）课程一路贯穿至高中阶段，并辅以中学阶段的科学和生物课，来传授性教育。

从小学一年级起，学生都会学习不论在线上或线下，尊重、隐私和安全的重要性。学校也教导他们分辨"好的触摸"（good touch）与"不好的触摸"（bad touch）、辨识危险情况、清晰表达个人界限并自我保护。此外，学生也会认识到，任何形式的性虐待和性剥削都是绝对不容许的。到了中学和高中阶段，学生则会通过情境模拟和角色扮演，学习如何建立健康的人际关系，尊重并坚守自己对性要求说"不"的权利，以及理解逾越这些界限所带来的社交情绪与法律后果。

在各个学习阶段，学生都会学习保护自己免受性虐待和性剥削的相关法律，以及可行的求助途径。学校也设有通报机制，让学生在遇到不当行为，或担心同学可能面临危险时，能够及时呈报并寻求支援。

我们赞同吴同学的看法，即单靠学校的力量是不足够的。家长在守护孩子的身心健康与安全方面，扮演着同样关键的角色。家长可以巩固孩子在校所学，并营造一个让孩子感到安全、敢于倾诉的家庭环境。我们鼓励学生继续与值得信赖的成年人（如父母、教师和学校辅导员），针对性课题进行坦诚和开放的交流。为协助家长引导孩子，教育部也在官方网站（https://www.moe.gov.sg/education-in-sg/our-programmes/sexuality-education/stakeholders）上提供有关健康性观念、成长与发育的精心整理资源。

教育部会定期检讨性教育课程，以确保它能有效应对年轻人当前所面临的挑战。我们会继续着重于个人安全与求助途径，并与家长紧密配合，共同教育、引导和守护我们的年轻一代。

教育部
学生发展课程司（第一司）统筹司长
卢炜桢